Electric burglar alarm



S. B. HESS.

ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 2|. 1915.

- 1,320,857. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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S. B. HESS.

ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-21.1915.

Patented Nov. 4,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lV/TNESSLS: [NYE/V TOR.

AM (E; 2 I? V I A4TORNL Y UNITED sra'rns PATENT carton,

SIMON B. HE-SS, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y.

ELECTRIC BURGLAPrA'LARIii.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4,191.

Application filed September 21, 1915. Serial No. 51,752.

ject of the invention isto provide a system.

which affords a great degree of protection. Another object of this nvention is toprovide simple means for testing the system to ascertain if the wiring and connections 7 are lll working condition,.and audible Indie eating means in connection with'such testing means to assist in indicating the actual condition of the system.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a system which upon test will dicate a fault or trouble in the protective circuit, notwithstanding which it will. be possible for the operator to setthe system and obtain substantially the same degree of protection pending the correction of the fault, as though the fault did not exist.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a housing for an alarm signal arranged so as to start the signal in operation upon illegal interference with the alarm housing.

It is still another object of this invention to provide novel meansof controlling the alarm circuit, to enable the person setting the system to leave the guarded structure by means of any exit, after setting the alarm, without actuating the signal.

This invention consists in the general combination. of parts and details described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an effective burglar alarm system.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is described in the accompanying specification, while the broad scope of my invention is ointed out in the claims.

. eferringnow to the drawings, Figure 1 of the testing device; Fig. 3 is a diagram matie view of the 'connectio'ns of the testing device; lfig. dis a perspective view of the front side of the instrument board, on the rear side of which are mounted the devices shown in Fig. l, excepting the alarm casing and the circuit closer for the alarm; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the board shown in Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views. In the diagram illustrated in Fig. 1,-' a

form of the system is shown in its normally operative set status, and the circuit may be traced as follows: beginning at the battery 1, through main wire 2, to-jun'etion 3 and after passing through the guarded structure 5'by means'of wires 4 and 6 passes through relay coils 7 and 8, to wire 9, which also passesfthrough theguarded structure 5, to ju'nctionlO and by means of wire 11 backto the battery 1. From the-center of battery 1 there isconnected to ground (at '13 a wire 12; at 21 there iis another ground,

providing conducting means "front the ground at batter 1 by means of'wire '20, to junction 19,'t ence by wire 18, to test switch member 17 which is normally in con-' tact with itscoiiperant contact member 16,

thence by wire 15 to the junction 14, between the two relay coils 7 and 8. This ground lead and the two leads 46, and 9 constitute the twinprotective circuits which are the subject of mv United States Patent No. 1,298,710, issued April 1, 1919.

A normally closed shunt for the protective circuit maybe traced as follows: from the battery 1, by means of wire 2, to junction 3, thence by wire 28 to contact member 27, which is normally in engagement with armature lever 26 which acts as a conductor, to contact member 25, wire 24, to thelo wer relay coils 23, wire 22, to junction 10', wire 11, to the opposite pole ofbattcry'l.

Now when a break occurs in a single conduct-or of the guarded structure, this will have no effect upon relay armature 55 for the reason that the ground connection 13 will provide conducting means whereby at least one of the two coils 7 and 8 will remain energized, notwithstanding such break, and the magnetic flux of the coils 7 and 8 is so calculated, thatwhile one coil is energized, the magnetic field will be sufiiciently powerful to hold attracted arma ture 55. f

As armature 55 -is now in it-sattracted position with V refeijci'ice to and 8' and reference to the protective circuit that both wires pass through all openings, so that-both wires parallel each other throughout the premises, and whprr an interference therewith occurs b tlt'co'nductors will e interrupted, which ill pause the-deenergization of both coils, 7 and 8; As current from Ehe source of energy 1 is passing through he shunt circuit which includes relay coils 23, these coils willpoiiperate with the force of gravity to attract armature 55 and will at the same time overcome the force of any "residual magnetism remaining in relay coils 7and 8, thereby positively attracting armature 55 and causing 'the same to break connection between its cotiperant c t t 73, and make engagement with its on r coopcrant contact 29, thereby closing acn'cuit and energizing one coil 35 of the circult closer, which in turn actuates an armature to close the circuit of the signaling means, as will be hereinafter described.

The circuit closer circuit may be traced as follows: from relay armature 55 which is now assumed to bein engagement with its cotiperant contact '29, by means of wire 30, to contact members 31 and 32 which are now in contact with each other by reasonof the position of the contact piece 77, connected to lever 26 by insulatingpiece -78, thence by wire 33 to junction 34, to circuit closer coil 35, wire 36, contact 37, armature 38, wire 39, junction 40, wire 41, to junction 4:2, thence by .wire 72 tothe alarm battery 43, to junction 44. wire $5, to junctioii 46. wire 47. lock switch member 43, which is in contact with its coiipcrant switch men bcr 49,thcnccby wire 50, to junction 51', wire;

to junction 53, wire 54. to armature 55.-

The closure of the circuit which has just been traced will cause the cnergizatioii of coil 35 which will attract towardv itself armature 38. thus opening the circuit of the circuit 'closcl"and making engagement with contact 56. closing 'thc'circuit of the signaling means which may be traced as follows: from alarm battery 43. to unction 44,

' wire (,1 to hindiugpostotl which is grounded on the lramc-ol' audible signal 59, thence by lu-ll armature no. to contact 91, to the coils of hell 5!), to binding post 58 which is insulated from the bell structure, thcuce by means of wire 57, ,circuit closer contact 56, armature 38, wire 39, junction 40, wire 41, junction e2, wire 72, to the opposite pole of battery 43, thus energizing the audible signaling means.

In order to stop the operation of the signal, let us assume that the combination lock 62 is properly manipulatedand the bolt thrown to the Day side 93 so that the L-shaped member 63- is moved to its dotted line position 92, thereby opening the circuit connection between switch members 48 and 49 and creating a new circuit connection be tween switch members-48 and 64.

In Fig. 5, there is illustrated a plunger 68 in the bottom ofthe instrument casing.

Let us alsofiissume that this plunger has means of junction 44, wire 45, junction 46,

.wire 47, to switch member 48, which is .now in engagement with its coiipbrant switch member 64, thence by wire 65, to contact (36, .to its coiipei'ant contact (37, wire 69, to restoring co l 79, wire 71,'to junction 40, wire 41, junction 42, wire 72, to the opposite pole of battery 43, thus energizing coil 70 to actuate circuit closer armature 38 to break {engagement with 56, thereby opening the circuit of the audible signal.

Lock switch. indicator arm ()3 which passes through a slot 96 in instrument casing 99, ('seeFig'. 4) isnow in its dotted line position as illustrated at 92, indicating that the system is connected on the Day side and that therefore the audible signal will not be actuated upon the ()t'tllllknt't, of a change offstatus in the protective circuit.

New assuming that the systci'n is actually in the status just described, that is, not set for operation, the indicator pointing to Day and the armature lever 26 of'circ-uit closer control cl ccti'o-iml; mct SO in its dotted line position 97 with all exits closed, and assuming the protective circuits to be complete, armature will be in cngage- I the assumed to be out of engagement with 49 and in contact with (3 1. Departing now for a moment, the other conductor of. these open parallel paths may be traced from-unm ture 55 by wire 54,- to junction 53,-wire 52," to j uhction 51, where the circuit again divides one conductor going to test switch member 83 and the other to lockswitch K member 49 which as heretofore stated is not in engagement with 48, thus providing two paths by the closure of either one of which current will be supplied whereby control electro-magnet 80 may become temporarily energized.

"If now the user deems it desirable to test the system, he will press-test buttonjtstdisposed-on'the front side of casing 9}). This will open the ground connection to relay coils7 and 8,,by means of switch members 17 and 16 and close a normally open shunt across uppercontact73 and armature 5:}, as follows from contact 73, to wire 7 4,"junci,

tion 19, wire 18, switch member 17, switch member 86, wire 85, junction 53, wire 54, to armature 55. The closure of the circuit of electro-magnct SOassociated with armature and upper contact 73 normally takes place by the attraction of armature when both protective circuits are complete, but when one or both wires of the protective circuits are ruptured or crossed or grounded,

this function is performed by the test de vice when a test is made.

2 When the button 84 causes 86 and 17 to make circuit, it also closes the circut between switch members 82 and 83 as will be observed by referring to Fig. 2. Switch members 83 and 17 are connected by means of insulating strip 100, so that, as pressure .is'applied to button 84, 1.7 is caused tobreak connection with 16 and make connection with 86-while switch member83 will by. the

same operation make connection with 82.

With vthe system in the .status just described, switch members 82 and 83 normally form an open shunt around combination lock switch members 48 and 49 as previously de-,

scribed. It therefore follows that when the test button 84 is. operated to make connecnates the necessit tion between 82 and 83 this wilLhave the same effect upon the system for testing purposes as'manipulating the combination lock to moveits bolt to thh Night side, and aside from other inherent advantages, elimiof disclosing the combination to a repair man who may be repairing or inspecting the system. The test button 84 having been pressed as just described,

, tains the following results:

be'causelock 62 is on the ture 26"tovtlieposition shownin the draw ing, thus opening the circuit of electro-mag net and closing the shunto'f the protective circuits through wils 23, and also by the same operation closing a conductor of the circuit closer previously-described.- Tlie audible signal will not be energized, and this will at least indi cateto t'licpei son testing that the coils 7 and 8 are energized iind umsei quentl y that the guarded circuitis in perfect condition, orifcoi-ls' 7 aiiil Swerc 'n'l-itfen ergiz'ed, artnatureto wo'iild fall and' ause the .s'igirirlfit) to sound. Now assuming that the userjalso desires to test the workiiigconditionofthe audible signal and its associated :cir'cuits, he drill open any'e-Xit, let 'us sz'iy-for feiiamplefthef door which'he' proposes to use as a means of c ressfrom tlieiguarded"structure after set}? t ng'thesysten \Vihli this'en it open, 'coi 7 and 8' become 'dei nergized, arnnitilre falls andis also attracted-byco'ils 23ft] ci'rcuit tlu-rethrough' being still z'ictive.

Returning to' the instrumentcasing, he again actuatesthe testing device] This ohthat switch members 48 and tfl'are separated, Day side,we'see that the engagement of armature 55jwitl1 contact 2!) does not close a circuit. But as test switch members 82 and83arebrought into contact with each other, a circuit is closed around the lock and through the circuit closer follini'sr'from armature '55,,to contact 29, wire 30,-contact member- 31, contact piece 77, contact member junction 34, circuit closer coil contact 37,armature 38, wire 39, junction 40, wire 41, junction 42, wire 72, alarm battery 43, junction 44,- wire 45, junction 46, wire-101, swit'clnmember 82, switch member 83, junction 51, wire 52 to armature The closure of the circuit which has just been traced will cause the encrgization of-coil 35'wliichwill -attract toward itself armature 38, thus opening the circuit of the circuit closer and making on gagement with contact '56, closing the/ circuit of the signaling means, which has been prewire 36,

viously traced.

In order to restore the system to its previous disconnected position, the user has only to actuate plungt'er 68, Stuntman armature lever 2610 it's dotted line position and the signalwill-besilenced.

Now thecombih ationi lock is manipu- Reniemberi ng 32, wire 33 too its

,junction'53,wire54,

. selected and which is now Mar.

v r i i I i v lated so as to throw its bdlt to the Night side 94, and as the bolt ,movesjtoits proper position, lock switch member 48 will? be released from connection with itTsT eoiperantg lock bolt ()3 to point toward the, Words- Xight at. 9-1:, thus readily giving visual assm-anceto the operator, that t e system is actually set for effective openati n. a

-The operator now leaves the guarded structure by means of the exit previously As he leaves the giu'n'ded structure, his closing the door of the exit closes both protective circuits .and armature 55 is thereby pulled up toward coils 7 and 8.

The circuit closer control electro-magnet 80 is momentarily energized by the closure of the following circuit:from-battery 43, to junction 4- \\'il't.'-i:5, junction *6, wire 47, switch member 48, switch member 49, wire 50, junction 51, wire 52, junction 53, wire 54, armature upper contact '73, wire 7-1:, junc tion 19, wire 10-2, contact member 75, contact piece 77, contact member 76, wire 79, elcctro-magnetS0,wire S1, junction-4.2, wire 7 2, to battery 43. Magnet 80 then moves its armature to effect the opening of its own circuit and to provide conducting means,

. such as contact piece 77 for lower contact 29 of the. main electro-magnet, and'such as lever 26 for the shunt of the protective circuit. so that if there be any surreptitious interference with the, guarded structure the shunt will become effective to cooperate with the other means-described to sound the audible signal.

Now referring to the function to'be performed by test switch members 17 and 86, in order to clearly describe the useful purpose of which, let'us assume that the circuit of the guarded structure has been opened by an authorized person entering for instance in the morning. Assume also that the. combination lock has been operated and the indicator 95 rests on the Day? side'93. th0 alarm having been regmlarlv silent-ed as previously described. now suppose that dur- ,ing the interval betweenopening the guarded circuit for the day and closing for the night one \virc'of the m'otectlvecircuit has ,become broken in any manner; now whenbutton 84 of the testing device is operated in the manner described above to testthe System it separates switch members 16 and 17, and the ground connection of the pro; tective circuit is thereby opened and ill'lllilture 55 is allowed to fall. and will fall to' its lower or retracted position provided it is not maintained attracted b v an v residual magnetism: but assuming no residual magnetism to exist in thecoils. the armature.

eatingdzo the operator that tact 29.

will fall into engagement with lower con- As the test switch members 17 and'86, and

and-82am brought into engagement res "tively,' a' circuit is completed for circuit c oser control agnet 80 as follows: from battery '43, to jinction 44, wire45, junction i6, wire 101, .switch members 82 and 83, juxifionfil, wire 52, junction 53, wire 85, switchmembers 86 and 17, wire 18, junction 19, wire 102, contact member 75, contact piece 77, contact member 76, Wire 79, magnet 80, wire 81, junction 42, wire 72, to battery 43. Magnet 80 is momentarily energized and theshunt circuit is thereby closed to overcome any possible residual magnetism in the eoresof coils 7 and 8. .As ma net 80 has also brought contact members 1 and 32 into electrical engagement with each other the signal'will be sounded, thus india fault existsin the protective circuit, notwithstanding which the operator may defer having the fault corrected until a more opportune time,

.and proceed; as before torestore and 'then' set the system and leave the guarded structure under theelectric protection of'one of the protective circuits.

It an attempt should be made toy-"surreptitiously gain entrance tqthe guarded structure. by removing the alarm housing, and destroying the signal before actually forcing au.cnti'-am-e into the guarded structure; this would necessitate drilling a hole through the metal housing, or a metal tool of some character" would necessarily be employed. 'ith m arrangement,it a metal which is a conductor -ot"elcctricit v is brought into contact with the housing and the signal, a

circuit will be formed as follows, to actuate I the circuit closer and operate the alarm:

From metal housing 97' by means of a wire Sh. connected to the housing at $9. to

junction 34. through coil 35. wire 36. to contact. 37. circuit closer armature 38. wire'39, to junction {0. wire 41. junction 42. wire 72, battery .43. junction 44. wire 61. to alarm binding post 60 which is.not insulated from' the structure of hell thus energizing the circuit closer electro-magnct and sounding the signal. It may also be here stated that if the housing itself is brought into contact with bell structure 59. the same results will obtain.

' As'will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, many changes may be made in the general scheme of circ'uiting as well as in the devices herein i-lcscribcd and diagrimmiatically illustrated 'without departing fi'o n the spirit of the invention. i

-- I claim:

.qtivecircuitincluding said source of energy, guarded structure, and electro-magnet means, a lay-path including a second electromagnetic means in parallel with said first e1ectrounagnet means,said by-path remainua gang-closed while said system is set, and circuit closing means actuated thereby upon interference with the guarded structure and -consequent action of the first mentioned -electromagnet means. t:-

2. In a burglar alarm system, a guarded .structure, a protective circuit 'thereforlinaucluding a source of energy, said circuit bering closed while in protective condition, 15,;ithere. being included-in said protective cir- --cuit' electro-magnetic means, and circuit nclosing means actuated thereby upon the =closure of the protective circuit. :1: 3.- In a burglar alarm systeunwa protective circuit including a source of energy,'a at. iguarded structure, and electro inagnetic --means, circuit closing means, and a circuit i therefor, including an alarm, an electror magnetto actuate said circuit closingme ans, *.iand .asecond electro-magnet momentarily 8?; itenergized' by the protective circuit toclos githecircuit of said actuating-electro-magnet.

4. In a: burglar alarm system, a, protec a tine: circuit including a source. of energy, a;

eorguarded structure, and electro-magnetic.

bmeans, circuit closing means and a'circuit therefor, an electro-magnet momentarily .ecnerg-ized bythe protective circuit to actuate saidilcircuit closing means, and an alarm adapted to be energized after actuation of said circuit closing means. V

5. In a burglar alarm system, an electromagnet, a circuit including the armature of said electro-magnet, a source of ener and a. second electro-magnet, circuit cosing means and an audible alarm adapted to be controlled bysaid second electro-magnet, said audible alarm having a metallic casing, an open shunt around said armature, said open shunt including the casing for the audible alarm, and the structure of the audible alarm, said shunt being adapted to energize the last mentioned electro-magnet when conducting means is interposed between the structure of the audible alarm and the casing substantially as described.

6. In a burglar alarm system, an electromagnct, a circuit including the armature of said clcctro-magnet, a source of energy and a second! electro-magnet, an audible alarmand circuit closing means in the circuit thereof adapted to be controlled by said second elcctro-magnet, said audible alarm having a metallic casing, an open shunt around said armature, said open shunt including the casing for the audible alarm, and the structure of the audible alarm, said shunt being adapted to energize said second electro-magnet when conducting means ate said signal to indicate whetherthe system is in proper working order,"while said switch is in disabling position, substantially as described.

8; In a burglar alarm system, the combination with an alarm, ofa protective circuit includin a guarded structure, said: alarm being adiipted tobe energized upon interference with the guarded structure, a'lock controlled switch for disabling said alarm,

and a test devicefadapted to ,operatesaid. alarm as atrouble signal when the' test de vice vis operated .while said switchisljn disablingfposition and a fault exists in the system.

9.-In a burglar alarm system, the combi;

nation With anaIarmQOf a protective circuit. includinga guarded structure, said 1 alarm being adapted to be energized-upon interference with theguarded structure, a

lock controlled switch for. disabling said alarm, a test .device adapted to operatesai'd alarm as a trouble signal when the test de- -vice is operated while said switch is indisabling position, and a fault exists in the system, and means in the protective circuit whereby the system may be operatively connected, notwithstanding such fault and trouble signal.

10. In a burglar alarm system, in combination, a three-wire electro-magnet and armature therefor, a testing device for opening one of the three wires and thereby effooting the retraction of said armature in case another wire has been broken, a circuit closing circuit arranged to'be closed by said armature in its retracted position, and a signal controlled by said last named circuit.

11. In a burglar alarm system, in combination, a three-wire electro-magnet and armature therefor, a testing device for opening one of the three Wires andthereby cf fecting the retraction-of said armature in case another wire has been broken, a circuit closingcircuit arranged to be closed by said armature in its retracted position, a lock, and lock contacts in said circuit closing circuit held separated by the lock in its unlocked position, and a signal controlled by said last named circuit.

12. In a, burglar alarm system, in combination, a three wire electro-magnet and armature therefor, a testing device for 0 ning one of the three wires and thereby e ectlock contacts. 4

13. In a burglar alarm system, in combination, a three wire electro-Inagnet and armature, therefor, a testing device' for opening one of the three wires and thereby cffecting the retraction of said armature in case another wire has been broken,-a' circuit closing circuit arrangedte be closedby' said armature in its retrac ted position, a lock, lock contacts in said circuit closing circui'tf held separated by the lock in it unlocked position, a signal controlled by said last. named circuit, said lock contacts including two contacts'held in 'engagernent when the "dock is open, and a restoring circuit passing through said last named contactsjfor restor-' ing said:circuit closing circuit. v k

. 14. I a burglar alarm system, in'combi- :nation, a three wireelectro'magnet having an, armature, a secondfle'ctro magnet, at

eO SlmnUcircuit of said three wire -electro-magnet passin through said second electromagnet, a. and controlled switch, a testing circuit closed by said switch iii-lone position thereof and including an electro-mag ,ture when released lsaidfirst net for moving said switch into a position 3: to close said shunt circuit, and a. circuit closin circuit closed by said armature when re eased by said first named, magnet.

15. In a burglar alarm system, in combination, a three Wire electro-inagnet having to an armature, a second electro-magnet, ashunt circuit of said three wire electro-inagnet passing through said second electro-magnet, a hand controlled switch, a testing-circuit closed by saidswitch in one'position thereof and including an elcctro-1nagnet for moving said switch into a position to close said shunt circuit,.'a--circuit closing circuit closed by said armature'when released, by

said first named magnet, two of the three 'ivires protecting an exit, and means for opening the third wire with said exit closed to ascertain whether there is current in both the other wires, i

16.1 a: burglar alarm system, in com- 65 binatio'n, a, three wire electro-magnet having anflarmature'asecond electro-magnct, a' circuitijforjsaid second. electro-magnet, a hand con-tiTdled switchya testing circuit closed'by -s itch inone position thereof and ifnclutlrng anelectro-magnet for moving said streamer pe i fi t v Q 5 e p cuit fgrlt'sa'ld {second electro-magnet and .a circuiticlos rigicircuit closed by sai arinamagnet.

ny h re dfi aifix myf i SIMON 13,; use. 

